Madhav National Park is in Shivpuri District in northwestern Madhya Pradesh, India. Madhav National Park is named after Madho Rao Scindia. Madho Rao Scindia was the 5th Maharaja of Gwalior, belonging to the Scindia dynasty of the Marathas. He acceded to the throne in 1886 and reigned until his death in 1925.
Madhav Park is spread across 354 square kilometers and is home to various wildlife. Sakhya Sagar Lake and Madhav Sagar Lake were created by Madho Rao Scindia, the erstwhile Maharaja of Gwalior, in 1918 on the Manier River. These two lakes are the two major biodiversity support systems in the Madhav National Park. This national park is an important MP tourism destination (MP means Madhya Pradesh, the state’s name).
There is a boat club on the shores of Sakhya Sagar Lake, which offers the chance to see many migratory birds, especially during the winter season. Maharaja of Gwalior also constructed many boat landing areas, watchtowers, picnic shelters, hides, etc, around the lake. Shooting Box, a viewing lodge, was also constructed by the Maharaja, and is situated above the Sakhya Sagar Lake. In the older days, one could shoot wildlife here.
George Castle (Picture given above) is at an altitude of around 484 meters or 1597 feet. It is the highest point, which lies deep inside the forest. George Castle was built by the Gwalior royal family for Tiger shooting by the then-British King George V, as an overnight halt for tiger shooting when King George V visited India in 1911.
Churanchaj ancient wall paintings are a nearby tourist attraction. Other major nearby tourist places are the Tundra Bharka Spring, Bhura-kho Spring, and the Watchtower.
Shivpuri city, currently the district headquarters and the erstwhile summer capital of the Scindia rulers, lies close to the Madhav National Park. Shivpuri was the former hunting ground of the ‘Scindias’ and Mughals. Large herds of elephants were captured from here by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Tigers and other animals were also seen in large numbers in the early 20th century.
Lord Hardinge is reported to have shot eight tigers in one day in 1916 at Shivpuri. Lord Minto is believed to have shot a total of 19 tigers during his trip to the princely state of Gwalior. The Tiger population has been almost extinct (#endangeredspecies) here from the second half of the last century.
Deer, Sambar, Chausingha or Four-horned antelope, Nilgai, Blackbuck, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Common Langur, etc, are some of the animals found at the Madhav National Park.
How Do I Go to Madhav National Park?
Shivpuri city, off the Agra-Mumbai Highway, is the nearest town to Madhav National Park, at around ten kilometers distance. Gwalior Airport, the nearest airport to the Madhav National Park, is around 130 kilometers distance.